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The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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Updated on: 08 Oct 2018, 23:23

3

34

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A

B

C

D

E

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

66%(02:00) correct 34%(02:16) wrong based on 1340 sessions

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The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public schools was 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985. Despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations, however, Newtown did not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990’s.

Which of the following, if true, would contribute most to an explanation of the apparent discrepancy above?

(A) Many of Newtown’s public school students do not graduate from high school.

(B) New housing developments planned for Newtown are slated for occupancy in 1997 and are expected to increase the number of elementary school students in Newtown’s public schools by 12 percent.

(C) The Newtown school board does not contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990’s.

(D) Teachers’ colleges in and near Newtown produced fewer graduates in 1994 than in 1993.

(E) In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available.

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The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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19 Sep 2015, 11:53

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cybera wrote:

The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public schools was 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985. Despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations, however, Newtown did not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990’s.

Which of the following, if true, would contribute most to an explanation of the apparent discrepancy above?

(A) Many of Newtown’s public school students do not graduate from high school.

(B) New housing developments planned for Newtown are slated for occupancy in 1997 and are expected to increase the number of elementary school students in Newtown’s public schools by 12 percent.

(C) The Newtown school board does not contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990’s.

(D) Teachers’ colleges in and near Newtown produced fewer graduates in 1994 than in 1993.

(E) In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available.

Hi,

I'll try to explain. Lets start with understanding the argument step by step

Let The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public schools be N.

N was 5.7(avg to 5%) percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985.

Despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations, however, Newtown did not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990’s.

let us take the nearby integer values of both 5.7 and 5.9 as 6.let the % of N in 1985 be 10

explanation of the apparent discrepancy above?

Even though the percentage 6% lower in comparison with that of another year 1985 the actual value is above the requirement. Therefore no shortage.

let us say we have 100 vacancies and we got 140 applications in 1993whereas we may have got 150 applications in 1985.

this number of applications 140(1993) is 6% lower than 150(1985)

Thus, even though we got less no of application in 1990's we never faced any shortage since we always had excess no matter what.

Online option E correlates with our pre-line thinking which says

"E. In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available."

I hope this helps

General Discussion

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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15 Jul 2005, 10:58

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E for me too. The answer should be a choice, which should convey a sense that there are sufficient teachers. The argument states that the number of teaching applicants are going down. Only E states that there were more applicants than positions. Therefore there are no teaching shortages.

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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30 Apr 2007, 07:41

E says that in 1993 Newtownâ€™s public schools received 40 percent more applications.....so in 1984 it would have been more than that...and it 1994 the decrease is not much from 1993 fig's as relative decrease of 5.9 and 5.7 is given.

So as the application for the post of teaches is always more than the posts available thus Newtown dose not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990â€™s.

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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30 Apr 2007, 09:46

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dvtohir wrote:

The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtownâ€™s public schools was 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985. Despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations, however, Newtown dose not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990â€™s.

Which of the following, if true, would contribute most to an explanation of the apparent discrepancy above?

A. Many of Newtownâ€™s public school students do not graduate from high school.Well i dont think this is absoulety a correct choice but i think this choice partially explains that if not many students graduate form newtown's school then even if the number of incomming students is increasing there is no need to recrute more teaching staffB. New housing developments planned for Newtown are slated for occupancy in 1997 and are expected to increase the number of elementary school students in Newtownâ€™s public schools by 12 percent.This statement talks about increasing the number of students and does not say a thing about teachers. So eliminate this choice

C. The Newtown school board does not contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990â€™s.This is irrelavent. So eliminateD. Teachersâ€™ colleges in and near Newtown produced fewer graduates in 1994 than in 1993.This statement is clearly out of scope. So eliminate this choice as wellE. In 1993 Newtownâ€™s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available.

This statement says that the teachers' applications were good enough for early 90's But we cannot say that the same would be true for late 90's . So this also cannot be the correct answere choice.

If someone has a better explanation, which i am sure someone would, then explain the answere choice to this question.Javed.

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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30 Apr 2007, 12:41

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apache wrote:

E says that in 1993 Newtownâ€™s public schools received 40 percent more applications.....so in 1984 it would have been more than that...and it 1994 the decrease is not much from 1993 fig's as relative decrease of 5.9 and 5.7 is given.

So as the application for the post of teaches is always more than the posts available thus Newtown dose not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990â€™s.

Picked E for the same reasons.
Let the numof teachers in 1985 be 100.
In 1993, if 5 teachers resigned , 7 applicants would have applied for the job. The number of applicants in 1993 is 5.7 % less than the number of applicants in 1985. The number of students have increased, number of resignation has increased , but the shortage can be filled because the nos of applicants is greater than the nos of posts available.

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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20 Nov 2008, 07:37

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Teacher to student ratio is more of a efficiency in teaching and higher teacher to student ratio means teacher can concentrate more on the students he/she has. If there are 10 teachers and 1000 students each T has to concentrate on 100 S. If 10 T and 100 S, each T has to concentrate on 10 S. We can't say that there is shortage or no shortage based on the T/S.

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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15 Jul 2013, 07:59

fozzzy wrote:

I picked C for this question can someone explain! Thanks.

The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public schools was 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985. despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations, however, Newtown does not face a shortage in the late 1990’s.

ACCORDING TO ARGUMENT:NUMBER OF APPLICATION HAS DROPPED IN 1993 AND 1994...compared to number of application of year 1985now it also says school doesnt face shortage..in late 1990this is possible only either number of application was much higher than availability of teaching position in 1985or student to teacher ratio would have increased.

now option C(C) The Newtown school board does not contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990’s.==>THIS SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE NOT INCREASED THE RATIO THING...so it is not explainig the paradox...if it were like thisThe Newtown school board contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990’s===>then it would have been the right answer

(E) In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available.===>this one clearly answering the paradox....number of available positions was less...so small decrease in number of application ...doesnt affect ....hence this one is correct

hope it helps FOZZY _________________

When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe ...then you will be successfull....

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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07 Jun 2015, 22:16

The number of applications for teaching positions 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 The number of applications for teaching positions 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985

So the number of applications was decreasing. [ NOTE: that it is not mentioned about available position ] { it is possible that available positions were very very less }

The student population was growing.

The number of teacher resignations were increasing.[ Note: It is not mentioned about how much percent ?]

Newtown did not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990’s.

So any possible Explanation that there were fewer available position then number of application for that job explain why there was not shortage.

E) In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available==> Perfect. Available positions were already very low so even fewer number of application doesn't matter.

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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06 Sep 2015, 08:05

1

The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public schools was 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985. Despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations, however, Newtown did not face a teacher shortage in the late 1990’s. [b]Which of the following, if true, would contribute most to an explanation of the apparent discrepancy above?

A. Many of Newtown’s public school students do not graduate from high school. Out of scope

B. New housing developments planned for Newtown are slated for occupancy in 1997 and are expected to increase the number of elementary school students in Newtown’s public schools by 12 percent.Out of scope

C. The Newtown school board does not contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990’s.Out of scope

D. Teachers’ colleges in and near Newtown produced fewer graduates in 1994 than in 1993.Out of scope

E. In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available.(Even though the percentage is lower in comparision with that of another year, the actual value is above the requirement. Therefore no shortage.)

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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27 Oct 2015, 10:33

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Let's try , though I am no expert and initially chose C over E

cybera wrote:

The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public schools was 5.7 percent lower in 1993 than in 1985 and 5.9 percent lower in 1994 than in 1985.

Let the scenario be something like this

No of Teachers in 1985 = 1000 ; No of Teachers resigned between 1985-1993 =57 No of Teachers in 1993 = 943 ; No of Teachers resigned between 19931994 =2 No of Teachers in 1994 = 941

cybera wrote:

Despite a steadily growing student population and an increasing number of teacher resignations , however, Newtown does not face a shortage in the late 1990’s.

How can this be possible ; teachers are resigning yet shortage of teachers take place , that to with additional students ?

Definitely through new recruitment. Now lets jump to our options and find the correct answer.

Which of the following, if true, would contribute most to an explanation of the apparent discrepancy above?

(A) Many of Newtown’s public school students do not graduate from high school. - Outright Irrelevent(B) New housing developments planned for Newtown are (shared) for occupancy in 1987 and are expected to increase the number of elementary school students in Newtown’s public - Outright Irrelevent(C) The Newtown school board does not contemplate increasing the ratio of students to teachers in the 1990’s.

This looks promising lets test -

Ratio of students to teachers = No of Students / No of Teachers

Let No of Students in 1993 be 10000 , No of Teachers be 1000 ; Ratio of students to teachers = 10Let No of Students in 1994 be 11000 , No of Teachers be 1100; Ratio of students to teachers = 10 [ 100 additional Teacher required to maintain same ratio]Let No of Students in 1994 be 13200 , No of Teachers be 1320 ; Ratio of students to teachers = 10 [220 additional Teacher required to maintain same ratio] And so on.........

The concept is clear , there must be an equal percentage increase in both the Numerator ( Students ) and Teachers and Denominator ( Teachers ) , teachers to maintain the same ratio of students to Teacher.

This option just touches the concept of recruitment of additional staff without directly stating the same - Lets hold it !!

(D) Teachers’ colleges in and near Newtown produced lower graduates in 1994 than in 1993. Irrelevent

(E) In 1993 Newtown’s public schools received 40 percent more applications for teaching positions than there were positions available.

Lets bring back our data -

No of Teachers in 1993 = 943 ; No of Teachers resigned between 19931994 =2 ; 2.8 Teachers wished to join the teaching position.

Now comes the fun , the School authority has the following options -

1. Recruit only the number teachers resigned to replace those who have resigned2. Keep a pool (Excess candidates foud eligible - for future requirement ) of candidates for the Post of teachers found eligibble for the post in near future3. Recruit all those candidates found eligible ( To meet future requirements )

This options clearly refers to recruitment of teachers to meet those who resigned ( As well for future anticipated requirement)

Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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03 Nov 2015, 01:34

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Question is asking that when there is a dip in % of applications for teaching job and continuous increase in no. of students enrolled together with a trend where many teachers have resigned, how come the school did not feel the shortage of teacher.EXPLANATION: The only way it is possible is that in absolute number terms if they are getting applications more than the vacancies they have at any point of the time, they will not feel the shortage. The same things is explained in choice E. Analogy: if John's income is decreasing and his expenses are increasing, there is still a possibility that he is not feeling the heat of this if it is proved that decreased income is still higher than the increased expenses.
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Re: The number of applications for teaching positions in Newtown’s public
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08 Oct 2018, 23:25

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